NOTE: BOLD type is a few lines from JadedPhoenixBurning. Thanks to her for all her helpful ideas and proofing.
Chapter 36
Cooter, Mark, Bo and Jeb were wisely talking about anything they could trying to get Luke to calm down. They knew when they first heard that his license was going to be revoked that it would be hard on him even if it was only a short period of time.
Luke finshed his beer, set the bottle in the can in the corner and reached in the frig for another. He hoped no one was really paying attention as he had already started on Jeb's share. But, since Jeb was driving home a bit later Luke figured he didn't need all of his share of the case. Luke had known for years that drinking when you were mad usually wasn't a good idea, but right now since he wasn't 'allowed' to drive, it seemed like a good time to him.
Ralph walked determinely toward the garage door. He entered the garage with the summer sun behind him. Ralph was a bit blinded as he entered the darker garage, but he was able to focus on Luke Duke. The truce forgotten Ralph crossed the garage like he had been known to cross the football field back when he played Defensive End for the Placid County Beavers.
None of the guys including Luke saw Ralph even pull up outside. Luke just finished a long drink of his beer when he saw Ralph coming at him from about two foot away. At this point Luke's brain barely realized who was coming at him before Ralph tackled him! He had been hit with two hundred plus pounds of anger. The why of the situation didn't matter now at all, as Luke found himself and the chair he was setting in heading for the floor.
Mark McCormick who was sitting closest to Luke didn't stand a chance as Luke, Ralph and the chair were falling toward him. As they all landed in the corner between the refrigerator, the oil barrel, trash can and on top of the tool box that Mark had been setting on and folding chair that Luke had been setting in all three men were just struggling to gain control of their situation. Ralph had managed to hit Luke with his sholder into Luke's ribs so once they hit the floor it knocked all the breath out of Luke. Where the other two had landed on him, Mark wasn't much better off. Ralph was on top of the pile but when the tool box that Mark was setting on turned over the tools spilled out and was under Ralph's feet as he was trying to get up.
As the three were stuggling with each other, Bo, Jeb and Cooter quickly went to try to pull the three apart. Bo was trying to get to Luke, but with Ralph on top of the pile he grabbed him with his left hand first by his belt to move him off Luke. Cooter seen what Bo was trying to do and reached over the blonde Duke to grab Ralph by his shirt collar. Cooter turned Ralph away from where Luke was. As Bo let go of Ralph, Jeb stepped in and helped Cooter move the man back.
Bo helped Mark to his feet and they both reached to get Luke back to his feet. By the time Luke's boots hit the floor, he'd got his breath and temper back. He easily pulled away from his cousins left hand hold and his friend going at Ralph, much like Ralph had came at him.
Ralph had the advantage though as he seen Luke coming just in time to grab a large pipe wrench off the work bench.
Cooter grabbed for the monkey wrench as Ralph began to swing it toward Luke. "That ain't fair Buddy Roe!"
When Luke hit Ralph he took him out of the grasp of Jeb and Cooter and put him painfully against Rosco's partol car that Cooter had been working on. As Ralph hit the car it only made him madder he used the car to his advantage and pushed himself off it. Being that Ralph hadn't been drinking he was more in control of his actions than Luke. Luke was fighting two demons. The beer that he'd had more than a few too many of and the two legged one that had been a thorn in his side for the last couple of years. As Ralph pushed Luke backwards, Luke stepped on a socket that rolled under his foot. Before anyone could react Luke and Ralph were back on the floor with Ralph on top.
Luke may have once again been on the bottom of the pile but he was sure letting Ralph know he was there. He still hadn't had time to think about WHY Ralph had come after him when they had agreed on a truce, but at the moment it surely seemed Ralph had tossed that truce out before he got there, so Luke wasn't worried about it either. Ralph also seemed intent on hurting him. Luke wasn't one who liked to be hurt. Timing his move just right, Luke gritted his teeth, leaned back and slammed his head right into Ralph's face. Luke managed to hit Ralph's nose straight on with his forehead!
Ralph would never admit it but that rung his bell. He wiped at the blood from his nose and as he tried to shake the spinning stars from his vision he felt himself being flipped onto his back...
Luke took advantage of the few seconds of pain Ralph was having to flip him onto his back. Luke was now getting to his feet. Thanks to a socket under one boot, just about the time Luke was standing up Ralph took his feet out from under him with a punch to his calf. Ralph had managed to clear his vision and no sooner had Luke hit the floor he felt Ralph's boot connect with his left side. As he gasped for air to refill his lung, Luke rolled toward the foot that had kicked him, grabbed the booted foot and twisted it with all his might to the outside. Luke managed to drop Ralph like rock to the floor.
Seeing that Ralph had not taken Luke easily, David yelled from the garage door to the guys, "Hey you guys you better stop them!"
The four on lookers inside the garage who had been trying to break this fight up, again moved in. Cooter and Jeb grabbed Ralph as Bo and Mark grabbed Luke. They had to pry his hands off Ralph's boot. It seemed that Luke was intent on causing the other man pain.
As Cooter and Jeb got Ralph to his feet and began moving him away from Luke, Ralph went as limp as if he'd passed out. Cooter and Jeb lost their hold on him as Ralph hit the floor. Once he hit the floor he sprange like a tiger and managed to hit Luke square in his left side again with his shoulder. Luke, Bo and Mark were all backed up to the wall by the hit. As Ralph's shoulder dug into Luke's ribs he again felt the air leaving his chest.
David saw Cooter's father and Sheriff Rosco Coltrane coming up the street, he casually walked over and stated very calmly, "At least one of you may want to get into the garage. There is quite some rukus up there."
Luther took one look inside his beloved garage. Their were tools and bodies everywhere! From what he first saw he expected thousands of dollars in damage to his business. He stepped back, "Sheriff you've got to stop this or I won't have a buisness to fix your car."
The car that Rosco was coming to check on that is. Rosco leaped head long into the garage, "ALRIGHT YOU GUYS KNOCK IT OFF!" He drew his pistol and fired a shot in the air.
Jeb and Cooter had both layed hands upon Ralph and were pulling him away from Bo, Luke and Mark.
The shot when into the air, the shop light, the ceiling and clean into the roof above the second story.
Between the gunshot and the glass raining down on them from the shop light each of the guys pulled up short and stopped. They had went too far. Way too far!
Rosco's first move was to the base station CB on the counter, "Deputy Petticord, where every you are get back to the Hazzard Garage NOW."
Deputy Petticord frowned. He surely wished that the Sheriff would make up his mind. He replied, "On my way, Sheriff." He turned the car and sped back to the grage he'd just left. Remembering his earlier scene with Luke he truely hoped that what ever he was responding to had nothing to do with him and his friends, but he couldn't shake the bad feeling that what ever it was they would be right in the middle.
Rosco took in the scene and saw both Luke and Ralph being held by the others who were also obviously involved some way or another. He reached for his cuffs and approached Ralph, who was still struggling against Cooter and Jeb. It was obvious to Rosco that the young mans nose would have to be looked at by Doc. Cooter wasn't about to let go of Ralph again so he moved so that Rosco could get the cuffs on him. He even went as far as to make real sure Rosco had no problem doing it either as he cranked Ralphs right arm around behind him. Jeb had seen what Cooter was doing and managed to take the left hand back behind Ralph also.
Ralph was now running off at the mouth, "What are you two doing? You aint got no right!" He then felt Rosco's cuffs biting into his wrists.
Rosco huffed, "I have every right to book every one of you, but I'm only takin' ya'll in until I figure out what happened here. Now just hush ALL of you!" He took out the second set of cuffs and approached Luke.
Luke looked at the Sheriff and tried to take in a breath. He found that taking a deep breath wasn't a good idea as he said, "Now Rosco, I ..."
Rosco cut him off, "Just hush, you heard me. I'm just doing this to I find out what went on and I'm not gonna be trying to listen to it all here. So just hush now and put your hands behind your back."
It was all Luke could do to keep his mouth shut as Rosco cuffed him.
Deputy Petticord pulled up to the garage doors and got out. As he took in the scene he saw one younger man outside the doors taking everything in, and six young men who had apparently had one heck of a fight, Luther was at the counter watching Rosco who had just cuffed Luke Duke. He sighed, he knew it had something to do with this bunch. "Sheriff." He said as he stepped inside.
"We're gonna be taking these guys over to the jail until I figure out what happened here." Rosco explained.
Cooter and Jeb were still holding a struggling Ralph. Bo and Mark were still standing beside Luke.
Rosco now stepped back to Cooter and Jeb. He took control of the struggling young man, "You're only making things worse on yourself. Now settle down." He said to Ralph. Then to the Deputy, "Cuff Cooter, ..."
Cooter had not expected that. After all he had been trying to stop the fight and even helped Rosco cuff the man, "NOW just hold on there Rosco!What? Why me? I was only keepin' this weasel from jumpin' Luke again!"
Ralph tried to pull away from Rosco right then but failed misserably.
Luther also jumped in, "Sheriff, there is no need for that."
Rosco was determined as he looked at the garage owner, "You told me to handle this and that's what I'm doing. Until you figure out how much damages have been done and I figure out who's responsible he's going."
Cooter looked at his father. He really hoped that his father wasn't going to just let this happen.
Luther didn't like it one bit but he did see Rosco's point. He seen the look from his boy who's own temper was rising quickly, "Son go with the Sheriff. The quicker he gets his answers the faster I can get you back over here."
Cooter really could not believe this. He hadn't done anything but try to stop the fight and he was being cuffed.
Rosco knew better than to let go of Ralph. He told the Deputy, "You need to also cuff McCormick over there."
"Do what? What did I do?" Mark spoke up. He only for the first time seen his younger brother outside who had a look of enjoyment on his face.
Rosco replied as Dep. Petticord got out his second set of cuffs, "I don't know what you've done but I'm going to find out."
Deciding not to give his brother anymore ammunition against him, Mark complied with the Deputy.
Rosco advised the Deputy, "You escort Luke and Mark. I've got this one and Cooter. Now Bo you and Jeb are going over with us and don't make me call Jesse to tan your hides because you didn't listen to me."
Before Bo could open his mouth, Luke gave him a look of warning, "Bo." He said simply. "You and Jeb listen to Rosco." For one he knew if they didn't listen to him Rosco would surely follow through and tell Jesse about it. Secondly, Luke needed them to tell what had happened.
As Rosco and Deputy Petticord marched the bunch of young men out of the garage and up the street toward the courthouse, it was sure a scraggly looking lot. No matter how clean a garage is they are still dirty places so all the guys clothes were dirty. Mark had ripped his jeans somehow and Cooter's shirt hung open. Ralph's shirt was ripped, his nose still bleeding and he walked with a slight limp. Luke's shirt was more than a bit untucked and he was protectively trying to guard his left side. Jeb and Bo shirts were even torn.
Once in the Courthouse Rosco put Ralph in the cell behind his desk and only after the cell door was locked did he removed the hand cuffs. Rosco then said, "You all just head on downstairs. Deputy you lock those double doors, then call Doc and Jesse. Get them headed over here."
Rosco motioned for Bo and Jeb to take a couple of seats in front of his desk. "You boys can just take a seat. Bo right here. Jeb set over here." He had seated the two as far apart as he could. "Deputy keep a close eye on them and no one comes in but Doc until we get some statements."
Cooter, Mark and finally Luke were followed downstairs by Rosco. Rosco locked the gate behind him and directed Luke to the first cell and Mark to the second. After locking the cell doors he uncuffed the two young men, then turned his attention to Cooter, "Just take you a seat over at the desk."
Cooter stepped over to the desk waiting for Rosco to uncuff him.
Rosco took his seat at the desk and got out some paper. "Set down Cooter."
"You're not gonna uncuff me?" Cooter asked.
"Not right now." Rosco replied. "Just tell me what that was all about first."
Cooter had now set down and was not at all comfotable with his hands still cuffed behind him, "Rosco we were all at the garage like normal this time of evening waiting to close, when out of no where that weasel ran in he tackled Luke, blinde sided him. Things just went down hill from there. We were trying to break them up when you all came in. It seemed like everytime we'd get them apart they'd get back into it."
Rosco asked, "What was it all about?"
"I have no idea. Last I knew they were alright with each other." Cooter explained.
"You said they kept getting back into it. Was Luke the aggressor at any point? And, before you answer that remember I've got Doc called to look at Green's nose." Rosco pointed out knowing that the boys were friends.
Cooter could have kicked himself for telling Rosco what he had. "Come on Rosco someone comes at you ain't no one gonna just set there."
"I'll take that as a yes." Rosco replied.
Cooter swore under his breath.
Across the room Mark found himself pacing the cell. He'd never even been down here before let alone locked in a cell.
Luke wasn't pacing. He wasn't doing much at all as he stood watching Cooter talk to Rosco. Luke wished that the two were talking louder so he could gauge how much trouble he was in but so far he hadn't heard any of the conversation.
As Mark turned around he stopped and began watching Luke. Something just didn't seem right as he noticed how Luke was holding his left arm folded in tight against his left side. He noticed Luke's right hand was closed in a fist and his jaw was clenched as he was trying to see what was going on over at the desk across the room.
Mark moved closer to Luke and quietly said, "Are you all right?"
Luke only nodded, 'yes'.
Mark wasn't buying it. They had played ball and been friends too long. "Luke talk to me."
Luke looked at him not at all sure that he could talk to Mark right now after the exertion of walking over from the garage. "I'm fine."
Mark was watching Luke. He was breathing very shallowly and quicker than normal. "No you ain't."
"Yeah, I am." Luke gasped and began coughing. He swore in pain as he tried to stop coughing and trying to get his breath.
Rosco was finishing up with Cooter when he looked over at the cells. The McCormick kid looked worried and Luke didn't look so good. He went over to the cells, "Luke what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Luke said.
Rosco looked from Luke to Mark.
Mark shrugged his shoulders, "That's all I've gotten too."
Rosco frowned. He'd keep his eye on the older Duke. "Cooter come over here."
Cooter with some degree of difficulty with his hands still cuffed behind him, got up out of the chair and went to the Sheriff.
Rosco reached for his cuffs and told Mark, "Turn around and back up over here."
Mark didn't like it but he did as he was told.
Rosco cuffed him, opened the cell door. "Come on Mark. Cooter get on in there." He then reached through and uncuffed Cooter.
Cooter rubbed his wrists as he swore about being put inside the cell. He hadn't heard much if any of Rosco, Luke and Mark's conversation. Cooter looked at Luke, "Hey I tried to put everything on Ralph but I think I may have goofed."
"It's 'kay." Luke managed to get out. "Thanks."
Cooter said, "Well, it's not like he didn't notice all the blood poorin' from his nose. How's your head?"
Luke nodded, 'yes', "Fine." He really wished everyone would stop trying to get him to talk to them. Right now he had enough trouble just trying to breath. Even shaking his head didn't seem like it was such a good idea at the time either.
"You ain't sore at me are ya?" Cooter asked. He'd noticed Luke's right hand clenched into a fist.
"No." Luke said lowly.
"Buddy Roe, I thought that you and Ralph called a truce. That didn't seem like any truce that I'd ever seen. What the HE- happened to cause him to jump ya like that? I mean, it ain't like you've been off with Robin or anything." Cooter said.
Luke clenched his jaw. Took as deep a breath as he could bare and said, "We did, ..." He stopped to take a breath, "No idea." Stopping again he unclenched and reclenched his fist, "No ain't, ... seen her, ... even." He again began to cough. Luke closed his eyes and held his left side as best he could with his left arm. He'd like to have swore but didn't have the air to do so.
"Luke, you alright? You don't look so good." Giving Luke a once over, he remembered the hits that Ralph got in. "I think that you ought to let the doc take a look at ya."
Luke shook his head 'no'. "Not gonna, ... give him, ... the satisfaction." He said between breaths.
Cooter knew now for sure that his buddy was hurt. "What's wrong. Where are you hurt?"
"Ribs." Luke knew he couldn't deny it any longer and was frankly getting tired of trying. "Left side."
"Ain't that where they was broke during the championship game with Placid?" Cooter asked.
Luke replied, "Exactly. ... See why, ... I'm not, ... sh-!" He swore not able to finsh his thoughts.
Cooter nodded, "Yeah I do. It was Ralph that got you then wasn't it?" Seeing the look on Luke's face, "Nevermind. I know."
Back across the room, Rosco had gotten out his second sheet of paper. Then, said to Mark, "Just tell me what happened at the garage."
Mark started at the beginning, "When I brought my sisters car in for some repairs, the guys were all there. I showed up about the time you radioed for Deputy Petticord to head to Route Eleven. I still don't know what happened before I got there but there was definitely tension in the air. Well, I joined them and we were all talking. The next thing I know, Ralph comes barreling in the garage and took Luke out of his chair and they both landed on me. The others came over and gave us all a hands up but things had went from bad to worse by now. It may have looked like a free for all but we were just trying to to get them two off each other. "
Rosco jumped at that last part of Marks statement, "Wait a minute, you said that there was tention in the air BEFORE Ralph showed Up?"
Mark tried to see if there was anyway to back track from that statement without causing the sheriff to go on a witch hunt. With Luke ending up being burned at the stake. Unfortunately, he couldn't send that comment in reverse.
"Yes sir. Luke seemed a bit upset when I first got to the garage but otherwise everything was just fine before Ralph showed up and knocked Luke off his chair for no reason."
"So Luke was the aggressor at some point? Remember I saw Greens' nose." Rosco reminded.
"Sheriff, if he'd come at me like that he did at Luke, ...It was only in self-defense and I'd had done th... " Mark's sentence went unfinished.
"I'll take that as a yes. Do you know what it was over?" Rosco asked.
Mark added, "Look Sheriff you and I know, they have had problems since high school. I had thought they had worked out somethings but I just don't know why."
Rosco finished up with Mark and directed him back to the cell with Cooter where he was uncuffed. The Sheriff noted that Luke still wasn't looking great but decided that he needed to get his statements from the juveniles before this place got crowded. He'd deal with Luke later. He unlocked the gate and left it open as he went upstairs. "Deputy I've gotten statements from everyone but Duke down there. Go keep an eye on them while I get these."
"Sure Sheriff. I also talked to Doc, he said he'd be here as soon as he could." Deputy Petticord reported.
Rosco looked over at the young man in the cell. The Deputy had given him some towels and it appeared that he had gotten the bleeding to stop but there was no hiding the swelling. He looked over at the younger two Dukes. Bo was picking at the cast on his right arm. Rosco went to him first, "Bo you are almost 18 right?"
Bo looked at the Sheriff, "A couple weeks yet."
Rosco nodded, "We can wait on Jesse if you want." There was a knock on the locked double doors. "Hold that thought." Rosco went to the door.
By now Jesse Duke could be heard on the other side of the door, "Rosco, you let me in there now to check on my boys. Doc already told me you called..."
Rosco had at this time opened the door and saw not only Jesse Duke but also Doc Applebee outside. "Come on in both of you." He relocked the double door. "Now Jesse, I'm just trying to figure this mess out right now. No charges have been filed."
Jesse let himself calm just a bit at that news as he saw his younger two boys setting on opposite sides of the room. "Where's Luke?"
Bo replied, "Downstairs."
Rosco said, "Jesse just give me a minute to get Doc set up here and we'll talk to your boys." Rosco talked to Doc and figured out the best place and how he could examine and work on the Green boy while Rosco was nearby taking Bo and Jeb's statement.
Ralph had been cuffed behind him. Much to his protests, then placed in an office chair at Rosco's desk. Doc Applebee examined Ralph's nose and found that it had been bleeding, was swollen, the patient had tenderness and bruising had begun. He could hear that the patient was having some difficulty breathing. "Do you feel like either of you nasal passages are blocked?"
Ralph smarted off, "What do you think? I can't even breath through my nose." His voice was even changed by the injury he had sustained.
Doc nodded and then motioned for Rosco, "I need to realign his nose. I normally give some pretty heavy medications before hand but I do also have a nasal spray the will take care of just the effected area."
Rosco explained, "I still need to get his statement and I need him able to give it. I'm still not certain what happened. If you can use the spray for pain and him still be able to adequately give a statement, I think that would be the best option."
Doc understood. He began to explain the procedure to the young man, "I need to realign your nose so that you can breath better. I will use this spary to numb the area before we get started. I'm not gonna lie to you and tell you this won't hurt but you will feel a sudden relief after I'm done."
Ralph was NOT happy at what he was being told but knew something had to be done so that he could breath through his nose again. Being still handcuffed behind his back only complicated matters. "Can this wait?"
Doc replied, "The longer you wait the more difficulties you will have and the harder it will be to realign your nose. The more it swells the harder it will be on you."
Not seeing much of a choice here Ralph nodded, "K."
"Alright, I'll use the spray." which he did, "Can you feel this?" Doc asked.
"Of course I can." Ralph whinned.
Doc said to Rosco, "Before you get started over there, I might need you." He gave another dose of the spray as Rosco came to help. "I know he's cuffed. Just keep him as still as you can. Alright, son, you are as numb as I can get you." Doc positioned himself as he saw Rosco also holding the patient. Doc took a deep breath, grabbed the nose and preformed the realignment.
Ralph tensed first, let out a blood curdiling scream, "AHHHHHHHHHHhhh,..." Right before he passed out from the pain.
Downstairs Luke was still holding his left side protectively as he too dealt with his own breathing diffculty. He couldn't help it. He knew it was wrong but he found great pleasure in the pain that Ralph was experiencing as a smile crossed his face as the other young man let out a cry of pain. Luke had been through this pain, no thanks to the other man before. He knew the pain he was having. Jesse had told him before that an injury to your ribs was likely the MOST painful of all injuries because they moved with every breath you took. Luke knew he was in for no picnic for a long while due to his injuries. He may not have seen Doc yet, but he'd been hurt like this before. He knew without having been told that his next two or three months was not going to be at all fun.
Upstairs Doc took an ammonia inhaler from his bag and woke the young man. "Rosco he is fine now. Let's get him back inside." The two men assisted Ralph back inthe cell where Rosco uncuffed him. Doc reached in his bag, "Here are a few pain relievers. If he is out before then send him over for a prescription otherwise let me know and I'll bring you some more."
Rosco nodded. "Alright."
Doc was just about to leave when he said, "I'll be out of the area for most of the rest of the day. Doc Petticord should be around later today of you need anything."
"Doc do you have time to check someone else?" Rosco asked. He knew Luke had not asked for a doctor or anything else since being brought in, but even Rosco knew someting wasn't right with him.
Doc replied, "Sure what do you have?"
Rosco replied, "I don't rightly know." Rosco seen Jesse's eyes meet his. He shrugged, "Luke tells me nothing is wrong, but I can't help but think he may have been hurt."
Jesse started to say something but was cut off.
"Jesse I swear, I tried to get him to tell me what was wrong, but I'm not gonna let Doc leave and no one be around and something be wrong with that boy." Rosco explained.
"Show me the way." Doc said.
Rosco motioned Doc to follow him downstairs.
Jesse also followed them, but directed Bo and Jeb to stay put.
Downstairs, Luke seen Doc ahead of Rosco and Jesse, "Ahh Gheese!"
Cooter encouraged, "Luke just let him check you out."
Mark added, "Luke just level with them."
Luke sighed as best he could as he watched Rosco open the gate. Rosco, Doc and Jesse came inside. The Deputy was sent back upstairs and the gate relocked.
Rosco opened the cell door where Luke was, "Alright Luke come on out and just step over to the shower area." The shower area was no more than a shower stall in a corner behind the officers' desk. Rosco went with him, followed closely by Doc and Jesse. Rosco said, "Stripe."
Luke was barely able to breath half way normally without exerting himself. "WHAT?"
Rosco replied, "You won't tell me what's wrong with you. Doc is here. You can stripe for an exam or tell us where you are hurt."
Jesse only said, "Luke."
Luke did not want to give Ralph the satisfaction of letting him know that Luke had also been hurt, but Rosco, Doc and Jesse offered him little choice. "K, ... " Luke paused trying to get his breath from the short walk across the room, "My ribs., ... Left side." He managed to finally get out, only after having to stop for air.
Doc said, "Take off your shirt."
As Luke did so, it was obvious to all three men watching him that his entire left side was bruised.
Doc looked at Rosco, "I can take him over to the office, but, ..." He glaced from Jesse to Luke.
Luke replied, "No need, ... Doc. ... This is the same, ... area, ... and the same pain, ... I had before, ... at the championship." ... Luke held his side as his sentence faded.
Doc remembered the young man had rode the bus all the way back to Hazzard before he let anyone know he was hurt.
Rosco was not about to be accused of not getting medical help for an arrestee. "Let me make a phone call I'll get another Deputy in here to go with you. I need to know the extent of injuries to both Luke here and Green upstairs."
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
Hours later, Rosco had taken his statements. They had all matched up pretty well except for the Green's. Ralph's nose had been set. Luke's ribs taped and everyone released except Luke and Ralph. Luther had seen that nothing at the garage had been damaged. He could use extra manpower to help clean it up but other than that nothing was damaged.
Luther nor Luke or Ralph wanted any charges filed.
Rosco, however, was under moral and legal obigation to at least let the judge sort things out. The only charges that would be filed by anyone was a battery charge on both Luke and Ralph based on the injuries both ended up with.
Tonight would be a long one for all involved. Luke was locked in a cell while still in pain from the injuries to his ribs. Ralph was also in pain and could barely breath in the cell upstairs. Mark, who Jesse had posted bail for, had to go home and face his family. Meanwhile his younger brother managed to tell things as HE saw them.
Cooter, Bo, and Jeb hoped that they hadn't told too much or too little to help Luke. The way things looked now with Luke still behind bars, it was hard to tell if they had helped keep him there or not. As for Cooter and Mark both had been cut loose since everyone agreed that they had only been trying to break Luke and Ralph up. Bo and Jeb were turned over to Jesse since they were minors and also had only tried to help Cooter and Mark.
Cooter now felt like he was the 'lucky' one in the bunch as he had to help clean up the garage and get it back into a working state. He had to keep reminding himself that not only had he not gotten hurt but also was not locked in a cell.
Rosco also spoke with Deputy Petticord about the events that had happened before this altercation at the garage. Deputy Petticord reported that Luke had jumped in the wrecker with intention of moving it but had not so much as started it.
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
As dawn brightened the Hazzard sky, Judge Milton Hardcastle was up and getting ready to start his day as his phone rang. "Hardcastle." He answered gruffly.
"Judge Hardcastle, this is Sheriff Coltrane." Rosco advised.
Hardcastle grimaced. Anytime he got a call at this time of morning from a Sheriff something wasn't good. "What can I do for you Sheriff?"
"Well I have something to run by you. I was with Luther Davenport yesterday evening. There was a fight in his garage which he asked me to break up. There was no damages and he didn't want to press any charges. Initially I thought there were six guys involved, two of which were minors. After getting statements from all the parties all of them matched, except one. They were separated and couldn't have gotten their stories straight. No one wanted to press any charges. However, I saw the fighting and due to the injuries the two got I felt I needed to file battery charges on two of them." Rosco explained.
Judge Hardcastle replied, "Alright I'll be down to arraign them soon."
"Thanks, Judge, but the reason I called you so early is you've recently dealt with these two before." Rosco added.
"Alright." Hardcastle said as he waited for whatever additional information the Sheriff thought he needed before he seen the reports.
"It seems your last two customers have returned after round two." Rosco said glumly. He had so hoped that there last stay would have solved their problem.
It was early and Hardcastle had three Counties of customers. He asked, "Who?"
"Luke Duke and Ralph Green. " Rosco replied and added, "This was a pretty serious fight. There was four friends and family members trying to break them up as Luther and I arrived."
Hardcastle rubbed his hand through his hair, "You mentioned injuries?"
"Got all the Doctors information here." Rosco began.
Hardcastle frown. If it was bad enough to get a Doctor involved then it must have been bad.
Continuing, Rosco advised, "Green's got a broken nose that Doc Applebee had to realign. Luke's got several broken and bruised ribs that Doc taped up."
"I'll be in at eight. Call Jesse Duke for me. Tell him I'd like to talk to him in my Chambers before I see those two." Judge Hardcastle said.
Rosco relied, "I'll call him now."
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
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